I am in my second year as an Associate Professor (with tenure) at a top research university (listed among top 20 in US News & World Report). My publication, teaching, and service records are all very good to excellent. I have also received numerous awards such as Sloan Fellowship and NSF's Career Award. In general, I am happy with my current institution, but sometime wonder if I can move to more prestigious university or find position with a better pay. There are other personal reasons as well that makes me ponder about this. Would it be a good idea to apply other universities for someone at this stage of their career? How do search committees feel about hiring someone who has a tenure? Any advice would be greatly appreciated

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Also, this part causes me to raise an eyebrow: "I am perfectly happy with my current institution, but sometime wonder if I can move to more prestigious university or find position with a better pay."
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Yemon ChoiFeb 17 '13 at 7:20

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@Yemon I see what you are saying. However, the conclusion I make from my (thus far) short life is that joy and satisfaction are elusive when we pursue them at a distance, though they can be found where we are in when we believe that we are there with a purpose. Something like the message of "The Wizard of Oz", though not quite, since life has many adventures too that have such purpose.
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Daniel SpectorFeb 17 '13 at 8:36

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Yemon- I guess I don't see what contradiction you think is there. Would you think it was strange to say "I'm perfectly happy with my house, but I sometimes wonder if I can find a nicer one"? On the other hand, I don't now what an answer to this question could really look like; the sort of places people at top 20 schools might think of as trading up (Harvard, MIT, IAS) do make tenured hires, though obviously not so many in the grand scheme of things.
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Ben Webster♦Feb 17 '13 at 15:32

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Perhaps the question should have emphasized the "other personal reasons" more, just so the MO members who feel the need to hold forth on their philosophy of life are less likely to do so.
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S. Carnahan♦Feb 18 '13 at 0:11